Hong Kong residents are angry about the exception to the strict quarantine rules for actress Nicole Kidman. The Hollywood star is in town as the producer of a series about expats but can move freely immediately upon arrival.
Other visitors to Hong Kong must be quarantined in a hotel for seven to 21 days, depending on the corona risks in the country they come from. Just before Kidman arrived in the city, a stricter quarantine had been imposed on visitors from several countries.
Authorities in the metropolis say Kidman’s pursuits in Hong Kong are covered by a professional exemption that is otherwise rarely granted. She has to be tested for corona three times in the first two weeks of her stay.
Hong Kong tabloids have been following the actress closely since she arrived from Australia on a private plane. Social media is full of comments from Hong Kong residents and expats. They worry about the privileges of the actress, while the strict rules prevent them from seeing the family for a long time.
Kidman’s involvement in a series about the lives of the wealthy foreign elite is also not well received at a time when China is silencing dissidents in Hong Kong.